Lou Lynn's Tray

It's finally done! This is the tray I offered as the giveaway prize for my very first Furniture Feature Friday. The winner was Lou Lynn from the Life of Lou Lou and her fabulous chair makeover. This is what the tray looked like before. It was a thrift store find and actually was in really nice condition. It could have been left "as is" and I gave Lou Lynn that option. She chose to have me custom paint it for her in a soft blue/gray with white hand painted detail.

I chose to distress the edges to give it more character and a sense of age. It also will hide any dings that may occur in daily use.

I hand painted some detail around the outside of the handles in addition to the border around the surface of the tray.

The hand painted scroll work was inspired by the footed tray I recently received from Kim at My Domestic Bliss. I really never know where inspiration is going to come from!

Once the tray was distressed and hand painted, I added an antiquing glaze to highlight the beading around the edge of the tray and give it more dimension.

I really love how it turned out. Blue & white is my thing, so it's a little sad for me to say goodbye to it, but that's how it frequently is for me. I think this tray would be perfect on a coffee table, as a vanity tray, or to serve guests. This is such a useful and functional piece.

Lou Lynn, I hope you love and enjoy it for many years.

Make sure you come back for my Furniture Feature Friday link party! You can share any posts about furniture or home furnishings (including accessories and decor.)

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I'm posting this to Met Monday at Between Naps on the Poarch, DIY day at A Soft Place to Land and

Good Advice, a Globe, and a Box

Don't forget to enter the Frog Tape Giveaway! It runs through Monday night at midnight, so go and leave a comment.

I'm sure everyone has "that" place in their house (or a few) that they just don't know what to do with. You can arrange and rearrange and never quite get it right. My family room fire place mantle is one of those places. I have had an antique medicine cabinet there, two different mirrors, a painting, topiaries, hurricanes, plates, you name it. Nothing really sings. Part of the problem is that I want to take a sledge hammer to that fireplace, but that's not going to happen for a while. Until then, I need to adopt the principal that if you can't change it, decorate it. Here it is...blah. I love the auction mirror ($1.00), the concrete chicken ($15.00), and the yard sale ironstone platter ($2.50), but I'm just not sure they all really work here.

So, I was staring at my mantle (as I frequently do) before we left on our trip. I wanted to do something. Something fast & free. The advice from my friend, Donna, over at Funky Junk Interiors popped into my head -- Layers, layers, layers. I had a twig wreath that I purchased for $2.00 at a yard sale in the basement. I grabbed it and just set it up between the mirror and the ironstone platter. What a difference! Something so small made a big impact. It still doesn't "sing" to me, but it's headed in the right direction. Good advice, Donna. Thanks.

While I was in Raleigh, I couldn't help myself and I dropped into Goodwill. I found a pair of silver tumblers for $2.39/piece and this globe for $3.99. I'm not sure, yet what I'm going to do with it, but I've always wanted a globe. (Not sure why...)

And here's a progress report on the bread box I am painting for Lilia of Two Brown Eyed Beauties. She sent me the quote she wants painted on it and I'm waiting to hear from her on the color scheme. I'll then paint the quote, embellishments, and add a final glaze. I was out of town for the holiday, but I have a lot of projects that are almost done. I should have some new things to share with you this week. Stay tuned!

BJ & PB Inspired Candle Holder

Everyone can relax...I survived shopping on Black Friday. The worst places were Kohl's & Toys R Us, but everywhere else I walked right up to a register. The silly thing is, I waited in a line wrapped halfway around Kohl's to get 50% off a pack of play dough and Shake 'n Go Mater. The sales clerk said, "You waited in that line for this?!" "Yes. Yes, I did." I found some great toys for my boys and nephew at Toys R Us, but I don't think I'll be venturing out again in future years. I really don't like malls, I hate feeling rushed & pushed, and you can get great sales online in your pjs. So, now that's done...on to the BJ & PB inspired makeover. (BJ & PB...that almost sounds like a sandwich...or am I alone, here?)

When I was growing up, I always remember having this big, brass candle holder in our living room. We would put a candle ring on it when we brought out the Christmas decorations, but it otherwise sat neglected in a corner. It ended up in the garage for a few years and finally my mom brought it to me to sell in the shop. I guess there are people out there who like 1970's decor and brass, so I put it in the shop. No takers. No surprise. So, I was going to donate it to Goodwill, but then I saw this picture posted by BJ at Sweet Nothings. She was inspired by these large Pottery Barn candle holders (on left) and actually hunted for some tall brass holders - just like the one I couldn't unload. She finally found some and painted them black to copy the look of the holders she loved in the PB catalog (on right.) Don't her copies look great? Now, as most of you know, I paint e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Why didn't I think of this? I think when you've had something since childhood, it's hard to look at it in a new way. So, here's the candle holder in all of it's ugly brassiness on my equally ugly kitchen floor (and in a bad photo, I might add.) And here it is as it always wanted to be - painted in a sleek Oil Rubbed Bronze finish. I love it so much, I'm not sure if I want to sell it anymore. All I need now is a candle ring to dress it up for Christmas! Thanks, BJ, for showing me something I didn't see on my own.



My Dad left this comment: "Just for the record, that candlestick holder came from a small shop in Dongdu Cheon-ni, Korea where I bought it for your mother. There was a little old Korean man who had a small smelter and who collected spent brass from the US Army range firing to make things to sell back to the GIs. We have several brass figurines around our house including a model of the tank I was on. I might get you to "blacken" that one some day. " I'm keeping that candle holder for sure, now. :)

I Missed My Birthday!

I just realized tonight that I totally missed the 1 year birthday of my business, Mustard Seed Creations! On November 12, 2008, I registered my business with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America. This is a huge thing and I can't believe I let it pass without a special dinner or at least a cake. This year, I sold my first piece of furniture, had my first client, painted my first mural (for someone else), was a vendor at my first antique fair, and started my first blog. In addition, I found a great partner in business, Denise, who owns the shop that sells my stuff. It was a big year for my business. If you'd like to read more about the start of MSC, you can check out my post on how it all began. In order to celebrate this milestone, I'll share pictures of some of my favorites creations from my first year. Click here to see my full portfolio.

In addition to all of my firsts this year, I have learned A LOT! I have learned new techniques, ways to expedite my process, what to buy (& not buy), and what style direction I really want to go. It was a very exciting first year and I know the best still lies ahead.

I want to say thanks to my mom, who is my biggest investor and pushed me into starting a business in the first place and my husband, who has encouraged me and helped me move more furniture than a guy should be asked to move. I'd also like to thank Denise, for giving me a chance (even though I showed up at her shop with hand painted ornaments in jeans with a mom, a toddler and a baby waiting for me in the car) and Laura Dreyer, who created an entire look for my business materials, including this blog. I am truly blessed.

** Make sure to enter my Frog Tape Giveaway before it ends on November 30!

What I Appreciate About the Blog World

Don't forget to enter my Frog Tape giveaway that is running through November 30!

Wednesday I had the opportunity to spend about an hour in B&N Books looking through the Home Decor section for books I might want to add to my inspiration library. (I then go home and buy them used on Amazon...) Anyway, as I was looking through the books, something hit me. These are not very realistic. I want to look at a Home Decor book that is beautiful, inspirational, AND real. I mean, how many of you have a bedroom like this?
Or a bathtub like that? Or a kitchen like this one...oh my. Let me stop a minute while I wipe the drool off my chin.

Don't get me wrong, I love these books and I get so much inspiration and joy out of looking through them. The fact is, it would probably take about 2- 3 years of 100% of my husband's salary to pay for a kitchen like this one. Most of us end up in homes with stock cabinetry, laminate counters, white appliances, and linoleum floors (maybe hardwood and granite for the luckier ones.)

In the past few months of blogging, I have found I am much more inspired by you! I love the real life kitchen solutions by Kim at the Twice Remembered Cottage. I am completely copying that brick backsplash when I get to my kitchen.

And how the Nester turned a builder beige bathroom into something really beautiful at The Nesting Place. THIS is a real bathroom and she made it fabulous by doing things that we can all do.
And the way Donna from Funky Junk Interiors made a magazine worthy bedroom out of...well, junk.
I have now learned that, although I love my books & magazines, when I want a real life thrifty solution I need to hit my blog reading list. You girls know what it's like to have $0 budget and to live in a home that falls a little (or a lot) short of being your dream. You know how to make something gorgeous with Mod Podge, fabric, a glue gun, or some paint. You dumpster dive, dig through thrift stores, bargain at yard sales, and turn your nose up at things that are over priced.

Keep doing what you do and blog about it all!

Today I'm going to shop on Black Friday for the very first time in my life. There are some sales I just can't resist. Let's hope someone doesn't break my ribs while elbowing me out of the way as I'm reaching for the very last "must have."

~ Magazine & book photos are from Betty Lou Phillips & House Beautiful. Click on them to go to the source.

Thanksgiving & Sneak Peaks

I am currently in Raleigh, North Carolina with family for the holidays. Although I am a homebody, it is always relaxing for me to get away. My home is my work, plus I work out of my home, so I really have to get away to "get away." I must admit, though, it was hard to leave all of my projects and not be home for the day after Thanksgiving to put up the decorations and tree, but I really did need the rest.

Today I got a long hot shower, made my great-grandmother Rosa's Congealed Fruit Salad, played with my boys, and took a leisurely trip with my hubby to B&N Books. This is quite a change of pace from diapers, breakfast, get ready, get to school, grocery store, paint, pick up son, fix lunch, bottles, naps, more diapers, squeeze in a little more painting, bills, clean, laundry, pick up toys...oh, you get the idea. And I fit blogging in there somewhere. My mom keeps telling me I need to do a post on how I manage my time. Maybe I will...
I also gathered "spikey balls" to dry out and use to fill hurricanes and surround candles. Aren't these cool? So, tomorrow we have the traditional Thanksgiving day, but it's very low key.

I'm sure most of you are taking a rest from the blog world, but I wanted to show a peak of some things that are waiting for me when I get home. Does anyone remember these brass butterflies. They are now a creamy white and waiting for the next step. Better already, don't you think?

They are sitting on Lou Lou's tray that is also ready for the next step. I love the blue/gray color she chose. It's a Sherwin Williams color called Languid Blue. Great color. This will be in the mail to you, soon!

I've sprayed this ornate thrift store frame and some peg board to use in my office. I can't wait to finish this project.

And I painted the drawers and hardware for my Craig's List dresser. It's almost done and I should be moving my clothes into it in a couple of weeks.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and remember - no Furniture Feature Friday this week, but we can all come back together next Friday.